Memory Verses

O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His compassion and lovingkindness endure forever! Psalm 107:1 AMP

Key people

Here is a list of key people found in today’s reading (in order of appearance) with bios from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

David. A young shepherd who gains fame first as a musician and later by killing the enemy champion Goliath.

Today’s Devotional Reading: Psalm 106 – 107

Psalm 106 Amplified Version (AMP)
Psalm 107 Amplified Version (AMP)

From Matthew Henry’s Commentary

We must give glory to God by making confession, not only of his goodness but our own badness, which serve as foils to each other. Our badness makes his goodness appear the more illustrious, as his goodness makes our badness the more heinous and scandalous. The foregoing psalm was a history of God’s goodness to Israel; this is a history of their rebellions and provocations, and yet it begins and ends with Hallelujah; for even sorrow for sin must not put us out of tune for praising God. Some think it was penned at the time of the captivity in Babylon and the dispersion of the Jewish nation thereupon, because of that prayer in the close, Ps. 106:47. I rather think it was penned by David at the same time with the foregoing psalm, because we find the first verse and the last two verses in that psalm which David delivered to Asaph, at the bringing up of the ark to the place he had prepared for it (Ps. 106:1, 47; 48; 1 Chron. 16:34-36), “Gather us from among the heathen;” for we may suppose that in Saul’s time there was a great dispersion of pious Israelites, when David was forced to wander. In this psalm we have, I. The preface to the narrative, speaking honour to God (Ps. 106:1, 2), comfort to the saints (Ps. 106:3), and the desire of the faithful towards God’s favour, Ps. 106:4, 5. II. The narrative itself of the sins of Israel, aggravated by the great things God did for them, an account of which is intermixed. Their provocations at the Red Sea (Ps. 106:6-12), lusting (Ps. 106:13-15), mutinying (Ps. 106:16-18), worshipping the golden calf (Ps. 106:19-23), murmuring (Ps. 106:24-27), joining themselves to Baal-peor (Ps. 106:28-31), quarrelling with Moses (Ps. 106:32, 33), incorporating themselves with the nations of Canaan, Ps. 106:34-39. To this is added an account how God had rebuked them for their sins, and yet saved them from ruin, Ps. 106:40-46. III. The conclusion of the psalm with prayer and praise, Ps. 106:47, 48. It may be of use to us to sing this psalm, that, being put in mind by it of our sins, the sins of our land, and the sins of our fathers, we may be humbled before God and yet not despair of mercy, which even rebellious Israel often found with God (Chapter 106).

The psalmist, having in the two foregoing psalms celebrated the wisdom, power, and goodness of God, in his dealings with his church in particular, here observes some of the instances of his providential care of the children of men in general, especially in their distresses; for he is not only King of saints, but King of nations, not only the God of Israel, but the God of the whole earth, and a common Father to all mankind. Though this may especially refer to Israelites in their personal capacity, yet there were those who pertained not to the commonwealth of Israel and yet were worshippers of the true God; and even those who worshipped images had some knowledge of a supreme “Numen,” to whom, when they were in earnest, they looked above all their false gods. And of these, when they prayed in their distresses, God took a particular care, I. The psalmist specifies some of the most common calamities of human life, and shows how God succours those that labour under them, in answer to their prayers. I. Banishment and dispersion, Ps. 107:2-9. 2. Captivity and imprisonment, Ps. 107:10-16. 3. Sickness and distemper of body, Ps. 107:17-22. 4. Danger and distress at sea, Ps. 107:23-32. These are put for all similar perils, in which those that cry unto God have ever found him a very present help. II. He specifies the varieties and vicissitudes of events concerning nations and families, in all which God’s hand is to be eyed by his own people, with joyful acknowledgments of his goodness, Ps. 107:33-43. When we are in any of these or the like distresses it will be comfortable to sing this psalm, with application; but, if we be not, others are, and have been, of whose deliverances it becomes us to give God the glory, for we are members one of another (Chapter 107).

Reflection

The Israelites in today’s reading are characterized as forgetting God (Psalm 106:7). Matthew Henry writes, Though He sometimes rebuked them for their sins, He also saved them from ruin. God will chasten those He loves in order to keep them on course to eternity. We are to see Him as merciful, calling us forward into renewed relationship with Him.

When I was a babe in the church (about thirty years ago), we used to sing a song called, “Look Where He Brought Me From.” It specifically said He [God] brought me out of darkness into the marvellous light…

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; I Peter 2:9 KJV

The song reminded me to remember where I came from and to continually thank God for His present mercies. Every day I see that my human frame is frail in comparison to my almighty Creator. Yet He raises me up in the Word to be a giant slayer. Though I make mistakes, He is faithful and just to forgive me. When I pray, I know that I am in the company of a Supreme being.

Everything in my life (no matter the dark hours), points to one conclusion: there is nobody greater than the God of all creation.

I recently had to face the question of whether I could tolerate someone who did not share my beliefs. Honestly, I have no problem sharing company with people who are practicing the same religious freedom that I have – to believe (or not believe) whatever I want.

It should be said here that (as Matthew Henry confirms) some people do not call on the Christian God in the same way that I do, but they also recognize Him; they were worshippers of the true God; and even those who worshipped images had some knowledge of a supreme “Numen,” to whom, when they were in earnest, they looked above all their false gods. And when they reached out to this Supreme being, He did not fail to answer them. We know then that God is not confused about who is serving Him.

References

« The Amplified Bible
« The King James Bible
« Matthew Henry’s Commentary

« Songs of Praise
« Daily Reading Plan | Devotions Home

Image Source: 365 Seeds of Promise by Shenica Graham.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Contact WiSeekU for more information.

© WiSeekU. All Rights Reserved.